The Salvation Army in Williams Lake Offers Shelter from the Heat  

The first week of July was recorded to be the hottest one ever according to the World Meteorological Organization. Here in Canada, summer temperatures have been above average and in the past few weeks some regions have even experienced mass forest fires as a result.

While the high temperatures may only be a minor inconvenience for most people, for those who are more vulnerable it can prove to be fatal. To ensure people experiencing homelessness can stay safe, The Salvation Army operates many cooling centres across different locations.

The Salvation Army in Williams Lake, B.C., operates a cooling/drop-in centre. This centre offers a place to cool down, hydration, showers, fresh clothes, vouchers, laundry, and outreach services.

“Here we offer people showers, we hand out water, and freezies, when the temperatures rise.”

“Our cooling centre operates out of our drop-in centre. Here we offer people showers, we hand out water, and freezies, when the temperatures rise,” said Tamara Robinson, director of family services and community outreach.

This initiative started in partnership with the city. The Community Safety Board wanted to address the effect of heat waves on the homeless population. The Salvation Army stepped in and now operates one of many cooling centres in Williams Lake.

“The Salvation Army is always grateful to partner with the city of Williams Lake and to help the vulnerable population in our community the best that we can,” Tamara said.

While other cooling centres operate on days of extreme heat, this one runs throughout summer. In fact, the drop-in centre is open all year long, transitioning into a warming shelter in the colder months.

The centre operates thanks to the work of dedicated family services staff and volunteers. There is also an outreach worker available onsite who meets with the guests that come in and can refer them to other programs or services they may need.

The staff are also trained to notice if people are experiencing heat-related illnesses.

“Most people who come have been very grateful for the Army being available to them.”

“Our staff is trained to identify heatstroke in individuals. And of course, we call for medical assistance if needed,” Tamara added.

As some of the guests come multiple times a day on hot days, the cooling centre is happy to accept donations of cases of water to help meet demand. In addition, hygiene items and shampoo donations are also welcomed.

For some of the individuals that come into the centre, the experience can be an emotional one.

“For many of our guests that come in, you can tell that they are in a degree of distress. So, each individual is just incredibly grateful. Some of them are even tearful. But certainly, most people who come have been very grateful for the Army being available to them,” Tamara said.

By Juan Romero